Neogen Corporation

John T McCaffrey

Joseph L DiCesare

David J Clark

Michael I Crockett

Szilveszter Jando

Sunita Carrasko

Disclosed herein is a device and methods for the rapid chemiluminescence assay of surfaces to detect the presence of microbial contamination. The device and methods are suitable for use by untrained personnel under the relatively harsh and variable conditions found in the field, for example in fast food restaurants and other food preparation areas. The chemiluminescence reaction that is the source of the analytical signal in the disclosed assay device and method is preferably based on a luciferase/luciferin system. The method for sampling disclosed herein comprises the steps of pre-wetting the sampling swab to a level below that of absorptive saturation; wiping a surface to be sampled with the swab with sufficient pressure to expel the wetting solution onto the surface; and, after reducing the pressure exerted on the sampling swab, further wiping the surface to re-absorb the moisture from the surface.

Apparatus for chemiluminescent assays

Disclosed herein is a polymeric sampling swab for obtaining samples of an analyte of interest from solid surfaces or from liquid substances. The polymeric material of which the swab is composed is characterized by a high resistance to chemical and mechanical degradation. The sampling swab of the present invention is further characterized by a high internal void volume and a high absorptive capacity for fluids. The swab of the present invention is particularly suited for obtaining samples for use in chemiluminescent assays for, among other analytes of interest, microbial contamination. Also disclosed is a polymeric disc for loading with reagent mixtures suitable for use in bioluminescent assay procedures. The reagent disc of the invention is characterized by high resistance to chemical and mechanical degradation. In addition, the disc has a high void volume and high absorptive capacity.

Polymeric medium for the retention of reagent species for use in a hand-held device for the relatively rapid detection of the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample

A hand-held assay device measuring chemiluminescence generated by as ample of ATP or other entity capable of chemically reacting to generate photoluminescence includes a photodiode detecting light which is emitted from the sample to produce a sample signal, another photodiode generating a reference signal in response to environmental changes, switched integrators amplifying the sensor signal over a controllable integration time to detect an output signal indicative of the presence of the sample.

Methods and apparatus to improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of bioluminescent analytical methods

Disclosed is a device and methods for the rapid chemiluminescence assay of surfaces to detect the presence of microbial contamination. The device and methods are suitable for use by untrained personnel under the relatively harsh and variable conditions found in the field, for example in fast food restaurants and other food preparation areas. The chemiluminescence reaction that is the source of the analytical signal in the disclosed assay device and method is preferably based on a luciferase/luciferin system.

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Cheshire, CT, United States of America

John T McCaffrey